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The architectural style of the 18th and 19th centuries is closely associated with sash windows. Their popularity stemmed from their larger panes of glass and more elegant proportions than casement windows.
Their origin has almost certainly been traced back to Yorkshire in England. Sash windows were designed to allow a small gap for ventilation without letting in the rain, and were also less prone to rotting and distortion due to their enclosure within a box.
There were both functional and aesthetic advantages to sash windows, and many people chose to replace their old windows with them, while they were also popular in newly built homes. Many were later removed, however in order to avoid paying the window tax of the late 18th/early 19th centuries.During the Georgian era, sash windows became what they are today, with the development of the two moving sashes. Blown glass with bull’s eye markings were the most common form, but still expensive. As techniques improved, larger panes became available and were used to create the characteristic Georgian windows, with narrow glazing bars and six panes in each sash..
Sash windows continued to be popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, although carved and molded decorations were commonly added to them. Sash windows that are gradated in size, becoming smaller at the top of the building are indicative of the style of this time, as are large bay windows. Four paned sashes often indicate a Victorian style. The wealthy often chose to have older styles of window added to their property to distinguish themselves from the increasingly common use of plate glass sash windows with the slimmer glazing bars that were once prized.
Despite their popularity at the start of the 20th century, sash windows have become less common during the last hundred years, with cheaper, less labor intensive types of window being used instead. An interest in conserving historical styles of architecture has recently revived the demand for sash windows, however. Sash windows today use all the latest technology, but retain the elegance and functionality of traditional sashes, and preserve the historic style of the older houses.
